My favorite chapter of Diane Ravitch's "Reign of Error", was chapter 23. This chapter is called "The Early Years Count". This was not an assigned chapter of reading, but it was a chapter that we could have read on our own. Considering my interest in education is early childhood I found it important to read. Ravitch talks about how achievement gaps among students are shown from the very first day of school. These gaps can be caused by the different environments that the pupils were exposed to. An example of different environments is if a child is around a lot of talking or if they have not heard many words yet, which effects their vocabulary. Differences in environment also affect a child's willingness to learn. In addition to this, Ravitch also says that health care and nutrition play a key role in physical and mental development. Early childhood education can help narrow the gaps of pupils caused by home environments.
According to James Heckman the numbers of children born into disadvantaged homes is increasing. If a child has an absence of supportive family environment then it hurts the child's future and creates the achievement gap. This can be stopped if society intervenes early enough. Early childhood education can improve the cognitive and emotional abilities of the pupils who experience disadvantaged homes. This early foundation for learning is crucial for the rest of the child's life. Children who are motivated to learn earlier in life are more likely to be socially and economically successful.
Ravitch believes that noncognitive skills are just as important in life as cognitive ones. She thinks that programs like No Child Left Behind do not emphasis noncognitive skills such as motivation, self discipline, and the ability to work with others. Investments in early childhood education leave significant lasting effects on the child and help improve noncognitive skills. High quality and well prepared teachers could change the achievement gaps of many kids.
According to James Heckman the numbers of children born into disadvantaged homes is increasing. If a child has an absence of supportive family environment then it hurts the child's future and creates the achievement gap. This can be stopped if society intervenes early enough. Early childhood education can improve the cognitive and emotional abilities of the pupils who experience disadvantaged homes. This early foundation for learning is crucial for the rest of the child's life. Children who are motivated to learn earlier in life are more likely to be socially and economically successful.
Ravitch believes that noncognitive skills are just as important in life as cognitive ones. She thinks that programs like No Child Left Behind do not emphasis noncognitive skills such as motivation, self discipline, and the ability to work with others. Investments in early childhood education leave significant lasting effects on the child and help improve noncognitive skills. High quality and well prepared teachers could change the achievement gaps of many kids.